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Mother accused of leaving child alone at park for hours

A Clive woman accused of leaving her 5-year-old son by himself at a Des Moines park for hours was arrested Tuesday.

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Updated: 7:09 AM CDT Jun 26, 2013

Mother accused of leaving child alone at park for hours

A Clive woman accused of leaving her 5-year-old son by himself at a Des Moines park for hours was arrested Tuesday.

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Updated: 7:09 AM CDT Jun 26, 2013

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WEBVTT C1 3 A Clive woman is behind bars tonight... Accused of leaving her five year old son by himself--for hours--at a Des Moines park! Patrick Bell has the story new at ten. It took nearly six hours, investigators say, for this mother to call police about her missing child. But the woman's family says there's much more the story. Ashleigh McBroom, Helped Lost Child: "he was adorable--and he had manners--like, if we gave him pop, he said thank you and he was really sweet and really good behavior." Ashleigh McBroom was celebrating her nephews' birthday at Union Park when suddenly, a little boy sat down at the picnic table. Ashleigh McBroom, Helped Lost Child: ""we asked what his name was, and he said his name, and he asked for pop--if he could have a drink--and then he went off and played with the boys." an hour or so later she realized he was alone. Ashleigh McBroom, Helped Lost Child: ""this is weird--where is his mom? His Dad? His Uncles--because he said he was with his uncles..." Ashleigh informed park employees. They called police. Sgt. Jason Halifax, Des Moines Police: "what it amounts to is, the little boy was apparently left there by his mom." that's right--investigato rs believe 34- year old Danille Clinton left her five year old son by himself at Union Park. But her family says that's not the case. Carrie Arment, Grandmother: "there's no way it was abandonment issues, no." Carrie Arment is the boy's grandmother. Carrie Arment, Grandmother: "he wondered off, joined into a birthday party like any five year old would that looked like "oh wow, they're having a blast they're eating cake, ice cream, pizza, whatever." And he pretty much planted himself there." the little boy, she says, was at the park with his mother her boyfriend, and an uncle. Carrie Arment, Grandmother: "I think she went to a convenience store, she left the park area, and when she turned around she tried to come back up the hill." But Danille, she says, had car problems. And the men who were supposed to be watching the child instead lost track of him. Regardless of which story you believe officers say kindness saved the day. Sgt. Jason Halifax, Des Moines Police: "you're pleased that someone caring found him, that someone caring took the care to feed him, watch over him, give us a call, and be a witness for us." Danille Clinton faces one count of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. She's being held at the Polk County Jail on 10-thousand dollars bond and will face a judge on July fifth. bond and will face a judge on July fifth. What about the 5 year old? The little boy,

Mother accused of leaving child alone at park for hours

A Clive woman accused of leaving her 5-year-old son by himself at a Des Moines park for hours was arrested Tuesday.